Last updated: July 10, 2021
Lesson Plan
Antietam Then and Now
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 3.L.1, 3.L.2, 3.L.3, 3.L.4, 3.L.6, 4.L.1, 4.L.2, 4.L.3, 4.L.4, 4.L.6, 3.RF.3, 3.RF.4, 4.RF.3, 4.RF.4, 3.RI.3, 3.RI.5, 3.RI.7, 3.RI.10, 4.RI.4, 4.RI.5, 4.RI.6, 4.RI.7, 3.SL.1, 3.SL.4, 3.SL.6, 4.SL.1, 4.SL.4, 3.W.1, 3.W.2, 3.W.3, 3.W.4, 4.W.1, 4.W.2, 4.W.3, 4.W.4, 4.W.5, 4.W.6, 4.W.8, 4.W.10
- Additional Standards:
- National Center for History in Schools, UCLA, History Standards, Grades K-4. Standard 1: Chronological Thinking, Standard 2: Historical Comprehension, Standard 3: Historical Analysis and Interpretation. History Content Standards for Grades K-4, Topics 1-3
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How has the Antietam Battlefield changed and stayed the same over the years?
Objective
Students will be able to:
Distinguish between past, present, and future time.
Explain change and continuity over time.
Draw upon the visual data presented in photographs, paintings, and drawings.
Analyze illustrations in historical stories.
Background
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day in American History. On September 17, 1862 over 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led to President Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Preparation
The teacher can print copies of the primary sources and modern images from the resource list before the lesson or students can view the pictures, paintings, and photographs online. These sources will be used for the writing assignment.
Students will need paper and a pencil/pen for writing down the answers to the questions or word processing/computer access to answer the questions. They will need printed copies of the images from the Resource List or access to these images online.
Resource List
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. Antietam, Md. Burnside’s Bridge.
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. Antietam, Maryland. A Lone Grave.
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. Dunker Church, Battlefield of Antietam, Maryland.
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. Antietam, Maryland. Graves of Federal Soldiers at Burnside Bridge.
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. Antietam, Maryland. Ruins of Mumma's House on the Battlefield.
Library of Congress. Alexander Gardner, Photograph. The President and General McClellan on the Battle-field of Antietam.
National Park Service. Antietam National Battlefield. Hope Paintings.
National Park Service. Antietam National Battlefield. Historic Newspaper Sketches.
National Park Service. Antietam National Battlefield. Current Photographs of Antietam National Battlefield.
Lesson Hook/Preview
Students will study and evaluate photos, drawings, and artwork to complete a writing assignment on what they learned about the battlefield.
Procedure
Introduction & Instructions for Students
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day in American History. On September 17, 1862 over 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. This battle also resulted in President Lincoln issuing the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, helping to end slavery.
Much of the battlefield has remained the same and much has changed over the years. You will study pictures of the Antietam Battlefield from 1862 (over 150 years ago) and also pictures of the battlefield showing how it looks today. Carefully examine the photographs, paintings, and drawings from now and then that your teacher has provided for you. They will help you answer the following questions:
Questions for Your Writing Assignment
1) Look at a picture from 1862. Describe in three sentences what you see. Can you tell anything about the landscape? What is happening in the picture? Is anything going on in the picture that will change the way the battlefield looks? What do you think the sights, sounds, and smells were like the day of the battle?
2) Look at a picture from now. Describe three things you see in the picture. What do you think it would be like to visit the battlefield today?
3) Write down three things that are the same about the battlefield in 1862 and today.
4) Write down three things that are the different about the battlefield in 1862 compared to today.
After completing the writing assignment, students will participate in a discussion based on the following questions:
1) What is the same about the battlefield in 1862 compared to today?
2) What was different about the battlefield in 1862 compared to today?
3) What are some ways that being a soldier in 1862 was different that being a soldier today?
4) Why do you think the National Park service has tried to take care of Antietam National Battlefield?
5) If you were a park ranger, what would you try to preserve on the battlefield, what would you change?
6) If you visit a historic site, what can you do to help preserve it for future generations?
Vocabulary
Emancipation Proclamation-This is the order President Lincoln gave to free enslaved people in states in rebellion against the Union.
Assessment Materials
Written answers to questions and responses to discussion questions.
Enrichment Activities
1) Use the park website to show the students some photographs of monuments. Have the students work in small groups to design their own monument and then present their monument to the class.
2) Use the picture of President Lincoln and General McClellan meeting after the battle and compare it to a modern picture of the president meeting with one of his generals. Have the students compare and contrast then and now. Have students imagine and write a dialogue between Lincoln and McClellan.
Additional Resources
National Park Service. Antietam National Battlefield. Park Brochure.
National Park Service. Freedom at Antietam.
American Battlefield Trust, Antietam.